‘Felonious’ Accident, Say Authorities Authorities say “Bug” Gaulding (left) was fatally shot on the night of Feb. 17th by Jonathan Andrew Bailey (right, shown in Piedmont Regional Jail photo). The two were predator hunting on land where they had permission to hunt. They were not hunting together. A grand jury last week indicted Bailey on four felony and two misdemeanor charges.
INDICTMENTS HANDED DOWN IN LUNENBURG
A predator hunter who earlier this year shot and killed a well-known Lunenburg County outdoorsman is now facing several criminal charges — including Felony Homicide.
A Lunenburg grand jury last Tuesday, Oct. 7th returned six true bills against Jonathan Andrew Bailey, 47, of Buffalo Junction (Mecklenburg County). In addition to the Homicide charge, Bailey is charged with Use of a Firearm in Commission of a Felony, Reckless Handling of a Firearm Causing Serious Injury, Wounding During Commission of a Felony, Hunting While Intoxicated (misdemeanor), and Shooting In or Across a Road (misdemeanor).
The fatal incident occurred Monday night, Feb. 17th, in the Keysville area of Lunenburg and claimed the life of William “Bug” Gaulding III, 54, of Victoria.
The Homicide indictment claims that Bailey “did unlawfully and feloniously accidentally” kill Gaulding.
Gaulding, who was pronounced dead at the scene, is remembered as a bear of a man with a big heart and who volunteered to help disabled combat veterans enjoy hunts in this area for the Wounded Warriors project and also for his time spent introducing young people to the outdoors.
Defendant Bailey turned himself into authorities the day after being indicted and was taken to Piedmont Regional Jail, where he was held without bond. A bond hearing for Bailey was scheduled for yesterday (Tuesday, Oct. 14th).
According to the State Dept. of Wildlife Resources, Gaulding was alone, hunting bobcats and coyotes on land where he had permission.
Bailey and another man were hunting the same property — and also had permission — but weren’t hunting with Gaulding.
A state search warrant reveals, “On the evening of February 17, 2025, around 9:45 p.m., Jonathan Bailey was hunting bobcats near 1172 Tuckers Road, in the Keysville area of Lunenburg County. While in his position, he fired a shot from his .243 rifle at what he believed to be a bobcat, aiming toward Tuckers Road. However, upon reaching the location where he thought the shot had struck the animal, Bailey discovered William Gaulding deceased, apparently from a gunshot wound. In addition to the thermal optic mounted on Bailey’s rifle, he was in possession of a Pulsar Helion 2 XP50 Pro handheld thermal scope. According to the Pulsar’s website, this scope has a built-in video recording capabilities, which could potentially contain crucial evidence of the shooting, as well as images of the victim prior to, during, or after the incident. This item… was seized at the…scene.”
The Dept. of Wildlife Resources has not yet disclosed the distance between Gaulding and the other hunter who fatally shot him, but there have been some reports that the distance was approximately 400-450 yards.
Court papers list the Grand Jury witness as Sgt. Paul Inge of the Virginia Dept. of Wildlife Resources (DWR).
“This was a tragic incident that occurred due to negligence and a disregard for safety by Jonathan Bailey,” said DWR Major Ryan Shuler. “It’s because of the professionalism and dedication of the law enforcement team at DWR and with the assistance of the Lunenburg County Sheriff ’s Office and the Albemarle County Police Department Cybercrimes Unit, that these indictments were secured and justice can be sought.”
The late Gaulding’s sister, Brandy Gaulding Roque of Lunenburg, has filed a $10.35 million civil lawsuit against Bailey. That suit, which was filed in April, claims that Bailey’s .243 rifle was fitted with a thermal scope “designed to detect heat signatures and clearly distinguish between human figures and animals — even in darkness.”
Ms. Roque’s suit claims that Bailey’s scope “would have revealed that Bug Gaulding was a human and not an animal” and that Bailey “negligently discharged his firearm in Gaulding’s direction without properly identifying his target.”
DWR has said previoulsy that defendant Bailey and his companion remained on the scene until EMS and authorities arrived on the scene, and that they cooperated with the investigation.
Loading Comments